ML20216C901
| ML20216C901 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 05/11/1998 |
| From: | Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Walter MacFarland ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20216C907 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-461-98-06, 50-461-98-6, NUDOCS 9805190434 | |
| Download: ML20216C901 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000461/1998006
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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LISLE, ILLINOIS 60532-4351
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May 11, 1998
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EA 98-266
Mr. Walter G. MacFarland IV
Senior Vice President
Clinton Power Station
lilinois Power Company
Mail Code V-275
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P. O. Box 678
Clinton,IL 61727
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-461/98006(DRP) AND EXERCISE OF
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Dear Mr. MacFarland:
On April 14,1998, the NRC completed an inspection at your Clinton Facility. The enclosed report
presents the results of that inspection.
During the period covered by this inspection, some improvements were noted in the performance
at Clinton Power Station. Specifically, a thorough root cause investigation for a loss of air event
identified several material condition enhancements, contingency planning for risk significant
events improved, and several activities were stopped when questionable results were obtained.
However, continued deficiencies were identified in the emergency response area most notably
with respect to the failure of emergency response organization personnel to appropriately
respond to several pager tests that were conducted subsequent to the February 13,1998, loss of
shutdown cooling event. This deficiency was considered significant in that it calls into question
the ability to adequately staff and activate emergency response facilities as described in the
In addition, we are concemed about three violations of NRC requirements that were identified. In
the first instance, NRC inspectors identified that personnel failed to appropriately implement the
requirements of Technical Specification 5.5.7, " Ventilation Filter Testing Program,"in that testing
was not performed on standby gas treatment Train "A" following exposing the high efficiency air
particulate filter and the charcoal adsorber bed to paint. In the second violation, measures were
not established to assure that nonconformances regarding dry film thickness measurements for
containment coatings were promptly corrected. As a result, appropriate corrective actions to
resolve the nonconformances were not taken. In the third violation, prompt corrective actions
were not taken to address degraded coatings inside the containment and the drywell and the
potential impact on the operability of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) should the
suction strainers become clogged during a loss of coolant event. This violation was considered
significant since the lack of effective corrective actions over a six-year period resulted in
degradation such that ECCS operability was not assured.
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However, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement and
the Regional Administrator, to exercise enforcement discretion for the violations in accordance
with Section Vll.B.2, "V;olations identified During Extended Shutdowns or Work Stoppages," of
the " General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement
Policy), and not issue a Notice of Violation in this case. The decision to apply enforcement
discretion was based on consideration of the following: (1) significant NRC enforcement action
was taken against the lilinois Power Company for corrective action program and Technical
Specification compliance problems; (2) additional enforcement action was not considered to be
necessary to achieve remedial action for the violations due to Clinton Power Station's actions to
address the coating degradation problem and its commitments in the Plan For Excellence to take
actions to address the corrective action program and the conduct of operations prior to plant
restart; (3) the violations were related to problems which were present prior to the events leading
to the shutdown; (4) the violations were not classified at a severity level higher than Severity
Level ll; (5) the violations were not willful; and (6) lilinois Power Company will meet with the NRC
to explain their efforts to resolve corrective action problems prior to restart as reflected in the
NRC's September 26,1997, Demand for Information (EA 97-435). Effective corrective actions
will need to be demonstrated prior to restart. The NRC must emphasize that failure to achieve
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effective performance improvement would lead to more significant regulatory sanctions.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, the
enclosures, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
Origina'l signed by
John A. Grobe, Dimetor
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket No.: 50-461
License No.: NPF-62
Enclosure:
Inspection Report
No. 50-461/98006(DRP)
See Attached Distribution
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SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ CLIN \\CLl98006.DRP
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements.
However, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement and
the Regional Administrator, to exercise enforcement discretion for the third violation in
accordance with Section Vll.B.2, " Violations identified During Extended Shutdowns or Work
Stoppages," of the " General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions"
,
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(Enforcement Policy), and at issue a Notice of Violation in this case. The decision to apply
enforcement discretion waa cased on consideration of the following: (1) significant NRC
enforcement action was taken against the lilinois Power Company for corrective action program
problems; (2) additional enforcement action was not considered to be necessary to achieve
remedial action for the violation due to Clinton Power Station's actions to address the coating
degradation problem and its commitments in the Plan For Excellence to take actions to address
the corrective action program prior to plant restart; (3) the violation was related to problems
which were present prior to the events leading to the shutdown; (4) the violation was not
classified at a severity level higher than Severity Level ll; (5) the violation was not willful; and (6)
lilinois Power Company will meet with the NRC to explain their efforts to resolve corrective action
problems prior to restart as ref!scted in the NRC's September 26,1997, Demand for Information
(EA 97-435). Effective corrective actions will need to be demonstrated prior to restart. The NRC
l
must emphasize that failure to achieve effective performance improvement would lead to more
significant regulatory sanctions.
In Accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, the
enclos'. ares, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
John A. Grobe, Director
Division of React >r Safety
Docket No.: 50-461
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License No.: NPF-62
Enclosures:
1.
2.
Inspection Report
No. 50-461/98006(DRP)
See Attached Distribution
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ CLIN \\CLl98006.DRP
To receive e copy of this document, indicate in the bor "C" = Copy without ettechment/ enclosure "E" = Copy with attachmentlenclosure "N" = No copy
OFFICE
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NAME
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DATE
05/7/98
05/7/98L\\d
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OFFICIM RECORD COPY
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W. MacFarland
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cc w/etici:
G. Hunger, Station Manager
R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety
and Performance Improvement
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J. Sipek, Director- Licensing
Nathan Schloss, Economist
Office of the Attomey General
G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing
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Services Project Manager
General Electric Company
Chairman, DeWitt County Board
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State Liaison Officer
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Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
Distribution:
J. Lieberman, OE '
J. Goldberg, OGC
B. Boger, NRR
Prcjeci Mgr., NRR w/ encl
A. Beach w/enci
J. Caldwell w/enci
B. Clayton w/enct
SRI Clinton w/enct
DRP w/enci
TSS w/enci
DRS (2) w/ enc!
Rill PRR w/enct
PUBLIC IE-01 w/enci
Docket File w/enci
GREENS
LEO (E-Mail)
DOCDESK (E-Mail)
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